Guidelines for Sunday Music

Guidelines for Sunday Music This information is based on two sources: and where the source is clear, the following coloring guidelines are used: 1. The book: A Companion to the Catholic Bok of Worship III, Guidelines for Liturgical Music, Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, (CCCB), Ottawa Canada (green) 2. The norms and practices at St. Justin s based on recommendations from past and current Pastor s. (blue) By definition, guidelines are only recommendations and while normally followed, there may be reasons for variation. Always check first. St. Justin s Choirs Table of Contents Purpose... 1 The Mass 1 Introductory Rites. 1 Liturgy of the Word.. 2 Liturgy of the Eucharist.... 2 Communion Rite... 3 Concluding Rite.... 4 General Information... 5 Guidelines Definition....8 GUIDELINES Purpose Purpose of the Music at mass and of the guidelines. The Mass Prior to Mass: Tone Setter/Prelude: Introductory Rites Processional/Gathering Song Opening Prayer Children's Recessional Music at mass is intended to foster the full, conscious and active participation of the congregation. Have a prayer among choir members. Takes place prior to the introduction by the reader. Can be used to help prepare the congregation for a new song. Excellent time to warm up, song choice should be relevant to the mass. If the congregation happens to be noisy, a soft song will often help them transition their thoughts to the mass. Brings the community together. Song choice to reflect the readings. Finishes when presider reaches the chair - no need to sing all verses. - On solemn occasions, when incense is used, the incensing is done before the presider reaches the chair. Finish the music before the incensing. The liturgy committee can request this song be omitted e.g. lent/advent, but normally is sung. On Solemnities and Feasts the presider may elect to sing the opening prayer. If so, the choir concludes with a sung Amen. Have one ready. Children of the Light Sing 1 verse. 1

Sprinkling Rite Or Penitential Rite (Kyrie) Exception GLORIA: Only one of sprinkling or Penetential Rite never both. Blessing of the Water precedes Sprinkling Sprinkling is usually only done at Easter. Music starts after the blessing of the water and continues until the presider reaches the chair. Music can be a song or an instrumental. Kyrie is always sung in lent, other times is normally recited. On Ash Wednesday and Palm Sunday there is no penitential or sprinkling rite. On Ash Wednesday the Penitential action is the marking with ashes. Not sung in Advent or Lent, otherwise is normally sung through the year. Intended to be sung -- if not sung it should be omitted, (but this rule seems to be broken from time to time). Liturgy of the Word After the First Reading, please allow time for silence before moving to the Ambo or starting the Psalm. RESPONSORIAL PSALM: Under normal practice, the Psalm should always be sung and should be proclaimed from the ambo. During Advent, Christmas, Lent and Easter all choirs may be requested to sing a common seasonal psalm. The congregation may be involved in the sung reponse or the entire psalm, depending on the chosen music. GOSPEL ACCLAMATION: Normally an allelluia song unless lent. Is intended to be sung. If the presider does not sing - then the response is not sung. On solemnities and feasts: o the procession is longer and so the music must also be longer o the music and can wrap the Gospel, i.e. music is sung before and after the gospel, e.g. one chorus after the gospel. Gospel On solemnities and feasts, after the Gospel, repeat the chorus of the Gospel Acclamation. Homily Profession of Faith: Recite Apostles Creed General Intercessions On some occasions it would be appropriate for the response to each (Prayers of the Faithful) intention to be sung like a litany and or to have very soft instrumental music in the background. If so, choirs will be informed well in advance to allow time for preparation. Liturgy of the Eucharist Presentation of the Gifts (Formerly Collection/Offertory) Preparation of the Bread/Wine Invitation to Prayer Prayer over the Gifts This procession does not always require music as per the norms of the church but vocal and/or instrumental music may be used. Normally music is used for the full preparation of the gifts and must conclude while the presider has his hands washed by the altar servers. o If the song concludes prior to that then extend it instrumentally. o On solemnities and feasts where incense is used, the incensing occurs prior to the washing of the hands. Occasionally choirs will be asked to conclude the music when the priest returns to the altar after receiving the gifts so the congregation can hear the prayers and give the responses associated with the preparation of the gifts. 2

Preface: First Acclamation: Eucharistic Prayer: Memorial Acclamation: Great Amen: Lords Prayer: Rite of Peace: Communion Rite Breaking of the Bread: Communion Procession: Song of Thanksgiving (Formerly Meditation) Formerly known as Parts of the Mass All responses during the Eucharistic Prayer should always be sung. Priest normally recites. On occasion the priest will sing the preface and the choir needs to be ready to lead the congregation in the sung responses. The Holy Holy is the highest point of the mass. Of all the songs sung during the mass, this will be the loudest volume. The celebrant has the option of using the suggestion below or #1, but the response always follows the guideline below regardless of what option the celebrant elects. 1. Default for all Sundays in Ordinary Time Celebrant: Let us proclaim the mystery of faith. Response: Christ Has Died 2. First Communion, Feast of Corpus Christi, Christmas and Christmas Season, Holy Thurs. and any Eucharistic Feast Celebrant: Praise to You, Lord Jesus, first born from the dead! Response: When We Eat This Bread 3. Easter Season up to and including Pentecost Celebrant: We are faithful, Lord, to Your command. Response: Lord by Your Cross and Resurrection 4. Lent Celebrant: Christ is Lord of all ages! Response: Dying You Destroyed our death 5. Advent Response Suggestion: We Remember, We celebrate, We believe 6. Christmas Response: Open for suggestions! Great Amen normally sung, but be sensitive to visiting priests. Normally recite The Lord s Prayer - but can be sung. No vocal or instrumental music. Music normally started as the priest returns to the altar after exchanging the peace greeting with the people. Music ends prior to the prayers before communion. Music should accompany the entire procession and only one song is to be sung so repeat as necessary. It can be choir only or choir and congregation. Music begins just after the presider has taken communion. On special occasions it is appropriate that after the communion procession, and after the presider is seated, a special song of Thanksgiving could be celebrated. Music that the full gathered community can join in and participate. 3

Concluding Rite Recessional: Applause Postlude Extra Songs If Needed Normally sung, but not liturgically necessary to sing it. The song ends when the presider has reached the narthex. Do not continue to sing extra verses. On some occasions choirs may be requested to use instrumental music only ample time will be given to allow preparation. The mass is officially over at the end of the recessional. It is now considered well intentioned but liturgically incorrect to add any additional prayers like the prayer for vocations. While there have been attempts in the past to eliminate applause, e.g. reading the prayer for vocations, the current view is that the mass is officially over, and that if spontaneous applause happens, then it is ok. Excluding situations like Holy Thursday where quiet is prescribed, the choir can elect whether or not they wish to sing another song. Can be used if there is a delay before mass or possibly after mass. 4

General Information Advent All Welcome Choir Like Lent, the liturgy committee may choose a theme, so they may a request a common processional or acclamation song during the season The Liturgy committee may recommend a theme or specific song. If a choir is unable to do the exact song, then try something with similar feel (tempo and wording). On Saturday, January 10, 2008 we started our All Welcome Choir which meets on the 2nd Saturday of each month. This is similar to the 'drop-in choirs that have recently been very successful in other churches here in London, including St. Georges. Ash Wednesday Baptism CCCB Here's how it works: - If you're free, and would like to play or sing at mass, then bring your instrument, voice and music. - On arriving, set up the equipment you need. On leaving, put back the equipment you used. If you don't normally do this, and need help then just ask. - We will use Marty Haugen's Eucharistic Prayer and try to take the remainder of the music from the Gather 2 book. - all music, will be played in the key's as written, intro's and exits as written, etc. So any special or unique add-ins etc. are not used. - sing play at the same volume as the person on your right. - for now, Marianne and Dan Rutledge assumed leadership - however, this can be rotated or reassigned at any time. - A copy of the schedule will be distributed prior to mass, or by email, time permitting. Students are actively encouraged to participate and a great opportunity for students who have been considering joining a choir. We can also arrange to include time spent in the secondary school volunteer hours program. If we have too many people for the choir area, (dreaming), then we can spill over into the first few pews. Depending on how this works out, we may eventually establish the first few pews as a Choir Auxilliary area, so that those members of the congregation, such as families, or those who wish to just come and be part of something without additional commitments, can do so. Who knows, they may end up joining a choir. Some choir members may recall playing at Camp Olalondo, with Fr. Mellon, with a small group of drop-ins and we had a wonderful masses! Let's give this a good old St. Justin's effort and who knows -- we may have some fun and meet new friends along the way! What' it's not -- It's not a jam session, rock festival or blues review. Everyone is expected to do their best to lead the congregation in song and make the mass as holy and sacred as you normally would with your own choir. See you Saturday! There is no penitential rite or sprinkling on Ash Wednesday. The penitential rite is replaced with the receiving of ashes. May occur during mass at Thanksgiving, the Easter Vigil, Easter Sunday and the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord (early January), or in special circumstances, anytime. Have a song ready. Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops For more information see www.cccb.ca/ 5

CCCB Guidelines Christmas Cycle A, B and C Easter Season Easter Vigil Readers and the Sound System Incense Lent National Anthem CCCB authorized the Catholic Book of Worship series. When CBW III was published, an associated book was published in 1995, called, A Companion to the Catholic Book of Worship III Guidelines for Liturgical Music. While most of the book is about CBW III, the included guidelines apply to any liturgical music and are very descriptive, e.g. which litanies can be sung, when to start music, when is a solo appropriate, etc. Regardless, we are responsible to ensure that what we do is appropriate for the liturgy and our community see Guidelines note next section. Christmas music is sung up to and including the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord in early January. There are 3 years in the church cycles and the readings and associated songs are different for each year in the cycle. The cycle year starts on the first Sunday of Advent and ends with the Feast of Christ the King. Cycle A started in December 2008, Cycle B a year later, etc. Sing Kyrie and Gloria throughout the season which continues until the Sunday before the Feast of the Ascension of the Lord. The station for additional readers is usually at the back of the church. In the past we ve rented a wireless hand held mic and placed it on a mic stand at the portable readers station. The wireless receiver is plugged into Channel 18 which is a recessed floor jack near the foot of the ambo on the altar. Adjust the volume using the top mixer board (not the choir mixer), in channel 18. Usually only Dec 24/25, Holy Thursday, Good Friday and the Easter Vigil. No alleluia songs during lent. Sing the Kyrie. Do not sing the Gloria. Like Advent, the liturgy committee may choose a theme, so they may a request a common processional or acclamation song during the season. o The Liturgy committee may recommend a theme or specific song. If a choir is unable to do the exact song, then try something with similar feel (tempo and wording). Normally O Canada is sung on the day of, or the associated Sunday: Rememberance Day, November 11 Canada Day, July 1 6

Passion (aka Palm) Sunday RCIA Sprinkling Solemnities and Feasts Song choices Blessing of the Palms occurs at the beginning of mass in the Narthex. Processional song, Hosanna, (Gather 2 #292), starts after the Blessing. Weather permitting, the procession may exit the church and return later. Keep the music going throughout. In years past, we ve directed the music to the tower speakers for this. This requires changes to the sound system. Turn the tower broadcast off immediately after the procession. It s hard to see from the choir area so you may need to have someone give you a signal when to start singing the processional. There is no penitential rite(kyrie-lord Have Mercy), or Sprinkling Rite, and no Gloria on Palm Sunday. The Gospel follows the procession to the front. During the reading of the Passion, there are 4 points where the readers pause. Ensure you have a copy of the readings. Sing a response at the first, second and fourth pause. Something like My God, my God, why have you abandoned me? Why have you forsaken me? (Songs For Worship # 76.) Theme: RCIA generally have a theme closely associated with the song You Are Mine. Try include the song You Are Mine as a processional at the special RCIA masses. Please note they leave at communion, so don t keep it for the recessional. RCIA masses are normally held 1 st Sunday of Advent: R.C.I.A. Rite of Acceptance 1 st Sunday of Lent: RCIA - Rite of Election 3 rd Sunday of Lent: RCIA - 1st Scrutiny - Rite of Water 4 th Sunday of Lent: RCIA - 2nd Scrutiny - Rite of Light 5 th Sunday of Lent: Lent - RCIA - 3rd Scrutiny - Rite of Life Easter Vigil: Baptism and Confirmation Several weeks after Easter (Tuesday night): Commissioning Rites Easter Sunday and at some solemnities and feasts. Have a song ready. Solemnities and feasts include, but not limited to: Thanksgiving, World Mission Sunday (3rd Sunday of October?), Feast of Christ the King, (last Sunday before Advent), and Epiphany, (January 6th). Etc. See: http://catholic-resources.org/lectionary/1998usl-solemnities.htm Words should reflect the readings for that Sunday. 7

Summer Format What is a relaxed summer format? Practices are optional, although your practice location is reserved. Sing the processional, offertory, communion and recessional. Everything else is optional. While we do not have a formal dress code, clothing should be appropriate. Instruments and full choirs will not always be available. Do what you can. You are the best qualified to do it! What it isn t A relaxed format is not relaxed music! While reflecting the liturgy, our music should have as much pep and energy as ever. Guidelines Definition Guidelines A guideline is any document that aims to streamline particular processes according to a set routine. By definition, following a guideline is never mandatory (protocol would be a better term for a mandatory procedure). Guidelines are an essential part of the larger process of governance. Guidelines may be issued by and used by any organization (governmental or private) to make the actions of its employees or divisions more predictable, and presumably of higher quality. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/guideline 8